Lead straightening machine



Sept. 9, 1952 w, ENGEL 2,609,858

LEAD STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Filed Dec. 50, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l 4INVENTOR WILLIAM T. ENGEL ATTOR Y practice. tively slow not only becauseit involves manual treatment, but because each lead is individuallydealt with one at a time. racy of the straightening operation isdependent Patented Sept. 9, 1952 "UNITEDQISTATES PATENT OFFICEWilliam'T. EngeLUnion, N. J., assignor -to Radio Corporation of America,a corporation of Delaware Application December 30, 1948, Serial No.68,337

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for straightening theleads of electron discharge tubes and similar devices.

Certain classes of electron discharge devices such as miniature tubesare provided with lead-in connections extending through the stemof thetube for connection to electrodes withinthe deviceand for providingcontact pins externally of the tube.

While the lead-in conductors referred to are relatively rigid, theportions thereof extending externally of the tube are not as rugged assleeve-type contact pins employed on some large types ofelectrondischarge devices. As a consequence, the contact pins ofminiature tubes sometimes are bent during handling. Since sockets inwhich such tubes are intended for use have openings therein disposed ina predetermined array forreceivingthe contact pins, it is necessary tostraighten bent pins to facilitate their entrance into'the-socketopenings referred to. One practice heretofore followed has been tomanually straighten the pins individually with a toolrsuch as 'apair ofpliers.

#Several disadvantages characterize this past The straighteningoperation is rela- In addition, the accuon'the judgement of'theoperator, as a consequence of which it may'not always be as critical asmight be required. The prior art practices, therefore, in straightening--bent leads are relatively expensive and lack assurance that the leadsare properly straightened.

. It :is therefore the objector the invention to .provide anapparatusfor rapidly and accurately straightening leads extending froman article such 'as an electron'discharge device.

' Afurther object is'to provide a'n apparatus for straightening leads.extending from a fragile article without producing objectionable strainsor zotherwise damaging the article.

Anothenobject ofthednvention is to provide a machine forautomaticallyand accurately straightening-the leads of a device such asan electron tube,:in one operation;

It is a further object to provideia leadstraightening machine whereinthe operationis mechantrolled by mechanical'means.

Another object is to provide a leadstr'aighten- 2 ing machine permittinga feed of pronged devices under mechanically controlled conditions to aprong receiving member for simultaneously and accurately straighteningthe pins forming said prong.

Another object is to provide a machine for guiding the travel ofanobject having a lead extending therefrom in a predetermined path and forreceiving said lead in a space formed by a pluralityof courses of theside walls of an opening of said machine and extending axially along astraight line from said object, for straightening "said lead-in.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the presentspecification continues. Referring to the drawing for a betterunderstanding of the invention but not byway of limitation thereof;

Figure 1 shows a side elevation in section of an apparatus according tomy invention;

Figure 2 is a section along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1 and shows the feedmember 'ofymy machine which receivesa device such as an electron tube inan appropriately restrained manner for suitably orienting the devicewith respect to the lead "straightening member of the machine;

Figure 3 is a view along the lines 33 of Figure land shows a front viewof the lead straightening die and support therefor, included in mymachine;

Figure 4 is a, section along the lines 4-4 of Figure 1 and indicates theeccentric arrangement of the driving member of my machine;

Figure5 is a view greatly enlarged of a section along the lines 5-5 ofFigure 3 showing the positionof one of the openings of my die during oneportion ofthe cycle of operation of my machine, the dotted linesindicating other positions of the opening during other portions of thecycle of operation, and the effect of these various positionsof theopening in straightening a lead;

Figure 6 is a View partly jinsection along the lines 6- 6 of Figure 5and indicates the action of the die or my machine, particularly the wallof an opening thereof, in controlling the position ofa leadtherein and,

Figure 7 is a view along the lines 1-! .of Figure 1 and showsa'stopmeans that I may employ on my feed member for stopping the travelof an electron discharge device thereon.

-In straightening the contact pinsof electron discharge devices'an axisof the device is usually used as a reference line with which the contactpins 1 are disposed in parallel relation when straightened. A feature ofthe invention is the constant angular shifting of the axis of the dievwith respect to the reference axis on the electron discharge device willtake place. This angular shifting of the axis of the die results in theapplication of a lateral force to bent leads extending into the openingsthereof. The application of such lateral force or forces by a pluralityof courses described by the walls of the openings in generating acylindrical space accomplishes a straightening of the leads in line Iwith the reference axis of the electron discharge device. The angularshifting of the axis of the die during operation may be characterized asa wobbling action and as a result thereof a predetermined restrictedcylindrical space is gen erated in each of the openings in the diepermitting clearance for straight leads. The wobbling action of the diefurther results in urging bent leads into the restricted space in eachopening resulting in a straightening of such bent leads.

Referring'now to the drawing in more detail, there is shown in Fig. 1thereof a machine employing my invention and including a feed member H3designed to receive a device such as an electron tube H havingcontactpins l2, and a die [3 suitably positioned and oriented withrespect to the feed member to permit contact pins.

l2 to enter the apertures or openings I l therein. The openings 14 areprovided with bell-type tapering walls resulting in funnel-shapedpassageways, the wider ends of which terminate in the die surface facingthe feed member I0. I This widened end portion of the openings I ipermits entry therein of contact pins disposed in a variety of differentpositions as the result of bends therein, and while the die I3 is in anyone of the many different positions it assumes during a cycle ofoperation. The die it is supported in a central apertured portion of adisc or diaphragm I5 made of resilient or flexible material, such forexample as rubber. or resistoflex. The disc or diaphragm I5 is supportedat its outer edge portion on support member l5 shown more clearly inFigureB. The support member I6 is in turn mounted on base H.

H] is also mounted on base ll to assure a desired orientation of thefeed member with respect to the die. 7

My Vdie may assume the form of a-cylinder having a tubular portion l8,at one end thereof; to the inner walls ofwhich is fixed ring 19 having asurface inwardly curved in cross section as shown at 2!! to receive aportion of universal ball bearing 1H. :The universal bearing 2! is fixedto one end of shaft 22, the other end of the shaft being fixedeccentrically to one end of tubular shaft 23 as shown in Figure 4. Shaft23 is supportedfor rotation in support 24 on bearings 25. The other endof shaft 23 receives in fixed engagement a further shaft 26, whichmaybeconnected to a suitable power source, notfshown, for receivingrotational movement therefrom. Support: 24 is also mounted on base H:for fixing appropriate orientationof the tubular shaft'23 and theeccentrically mounted shaft The feed member I 4 with respect to thecontact pins l2.

4 i 22 with respect to the die [3 and the feed member l0.

The operational characteristics of my novel lead straightening machinewill now be described in the interests of a better understanding of myinvention.

The feed member In as shown in Figures 1 and 2 is trough-shaped,including a rounded bottom and curved side walls and open at the top andat the ends thereof. The dimensions of the trough are such as to receivesnugly a device ,of predetermined shape such as a miniature electrontube having prongs requiring straightening The feed member ID shown inFigure 1 is made long enough to hold a tube thereon. against falling.Once a tube is placed in the feed member IE) it is in suitable alignmentwith the 'die 13. The tube is then rotated manually through a small arcon its longitudinal axis so that the pins l2 thereon are brought intoappropriate alignment with the flared openings I4 in the die. The tube His then given manually a longitudinal movement resulting in engagementof the pins l2 by the walls of the openings 14. i

During a continuous straightening operation involving aplurality ofdevices; the shafts 22, 23 and 23 may constantly rotate, causing thetubular end E8 of the die to follow the eccentric travel of shaft 22.Since the end portion of the die facing the feed member H3 is supportedon the diaphragm or disc I5, which in turn is fixed to support I6,.theeifect of the eccentric travel of end If! of the die isto disposethe face of the die successively in a plurality of angular planescharacteristic of a wobbling action, the angular displacement of theface of the die from one plane to another being permitted'by theresilient or flexible'nature of the diaphragm l5. 7

This constantly changing planar disposition of the face of die 13 duringrotation of shafts 22, 23 and 26 results in a constantly changingangular disposition of the walls of the openings As shown more clearlyin a greatly enlarged View in Figure 5, the solid lines indicate theposition'of an opening when'the face of the die is displaced in amaximum angular deflection downwardly from a vertical plane during acycle of operation. In this position an upper portion of the flaredwalls of an opening M will be substantially horizontal and if a contactpin is bent upwardly out of a horizontal plane it will be deflecteddownwardly to a position where it is suitably straightened in a verticalplane. The upper dotted lines indicate the position of opening l4 duringthe upper maximum angular deflection of the die face from the verticalplane'referred to. In this case a lower portion of the flared walls ofthe opening will engage a lead that may be bent downwardly to straightenit' in a'vertical plane. The intermediate dotted lines are arepresentation of the position of an openingduring a maximum lateralangular deflection of the face of the die .from'the vertical planereferred to. In this case any component of the bend in a bent pinextending in a horizontal plane will be suitably straightened.

During each cycle of operation of my machine the face of my die l3issuccessively angularly displaced in all directions froma vertical plane.As a consequence, the walls of the openings describe paths or coursesthat cumulatively cooperate to provide an elongated free cylindricalspace in each opening having transverse di- "for complete straighteningthereof. "pm at atime is engaged by an opening, reduction instrains onthe "pin as wen as on the'tube :mensions isubstantially equal to those'of' a .pin Ttoibe straightened. This"I cylindrica1 "space is disposed11in proper-alignment withffeed member [was wouldfrbe require'd forastraight pin.

Since a con-tact pin inserted into one of the openings M of i-th'e dieof my machine is caused to o'ccup'y the 'space referred to' -by theaction "thereon ofWthe walls of the opening during a cycle of operationof my machine, 6 such 'pin will "be accurately and'rapidly straightened.

This straightening action of my machine is further illustrated in Figure6, which "shows 'four .positions of an openingin the die' 'of 'mymachine and indicates how these :positions :result in the definition ofi a i tree cylindrical space oc'cupied by pin l2,fafter thezpin'hasbeen' straightened. It will benoted that theupper wall of opening l4shown infull lines, forms an upper boundary for the 1 space occupied by1 the "straightened Lpin l2, whil'e tthe lower :wall of the "socket inits upper aposition,shown in dotted lines, forms *the lower boundaryfor'the space occupiedby the straightened J-pin. Side-boundaries arealso 'provided for "the freeispace referred toybyfthetside walls oftheopenin'g, when the walls aresuccessively inclined laterally of pin l2in different-directions as shown in the dotted line lateral array.

While only four positions of an opening are shown-in Figured, it will beappreciated that during "a cycleof operation involving successivedeflections ofdie l3, angularly and in an infinite numberof radialdirections, allpartsof an annuslartportion of "the wall of an openingwill suceessively engage all sides or a pin tobe straight- :ened. Sinceallfthe sides of the: pin will :thus

be engagedsby the opening walls,it willresult in i a straightening 'ofTthe. pin inwall :planes; parallel to the reference axis of the devicefrom which the pin extends. *Considering'the movement of the dielfi'during'a cycle ofoperation as it affects 1 an opening in the face ofthe die,:it will be noted .from-Fig. 6 that 'each opening travels in acircular path, the solid line ll indicating thesucces- 'si-ve positionsof the-axis of :an'opening during a cycle of operation.

In addition to being .radially deflected, the openings ofmydie-are-longitudinally'moved during acycle of operation. Thus asnotedin Fig.

-1 the upper opening 14 is longitudinally closer to the contact pins-oftube ll than the lower.

opening. This is of advantage in a straightening operation. Thus, thestraightening operation, while relatively rapid, is gradually performedto reduce strains. in the-pins and in the article from which theyextend. It will benoted that in the position shown inFig. 1 the "endedthe upper .pms first engage the bell-shaped portion or the walls of theupper openingIthatisrelatively close to the die face. This accomplishesa slight straightening of the upper..pins with the force appliedto thepin ends. .As the cycle continues and thetube 'H "is held againstmovement, all

the pin'sfare engaged by "the bell-shaped wall for'a'partialstraighteningthereof. The tube is then position'edfairthertowards the diewith the result "that the .pins enter farther into theopenings Since one results.

Thedegreeof'defie'ction of the die face can be predetermined bysuitablycontrolling the degree of"eccentricity'of shaft 22 with respect to shaftThis deflection can :be made large enough so that -"the openings needonly :engage the end portio'ns o'f the contactpins for fully straightenpushing force applied thereto. this stop'and the degree of deflection ofthe face of'die l3mayrbe coordinated to permit sufficient entranceofiipins t2 into the openings M for ac- :ing them If desired, I mayprovide-a stop 28, shown in Fig. 7 i for stopplngthealongitudinal travelof the tube H in response. to amanual :The location of complishing' acomplete and accurate straightening ofthe pins. This 'stopmeans howeveris not strictly required forjthexpra'ctice of my invention since theaction of the'die onthe pins of the electron tube as previouslyexplained herein is sufficiently smooth to: permit a straighteningoperation with the pins extending fartherinto the openings than requiredfor a full straightening "action. "As amatter of fact, the tube [I maybe pushed towards the die face until the stem or ipro'ngedend thereofabuts the face'of the die. Such abutment disposition of the tubestem andthe die 'face'do'es not result in any impacts on the tube stem from thedie for the reason that the "wobbling motion of the die face alwaysdisposes a portion'ofthe dieface in aplan'e representing the maximumlongitudinal displacement of. the'die towards the electron tube l Iduring any portion of its cycle of operation. Consequently, there is noharm in pushing the tube far enough towards the die to contact the facethereof with its stem.

It will be-appreciated therefore that I have provided anadvantageous-machine for straightening-bent leads" on devicessuch aselectron tubes that requires a minimum of manual handling of the deviceand assures a correct positioning thereof with respect'to astraighteningdie. The combination ofwa resilientsupportfor a" face end of the die andan eccentric coupling of the other end of the die to a source oirotarypower impartsthe required angular'and longitudinal deflection to thefaceo f the die and consequently to the openingsprovided therein, foreffectively, rapidly and accurately straightening leads that "areextendedinto said openings.

Various substitutions and modifications may be made in-the elementsconstituting the illustrated embodiment-of the invention withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as pointed outin-the appended claims.

- I claim:

'1. An apparatusiorstraightening contact pins of-anelectrical devicecomprising means for supporting and guiding saiddevice in -apredetermined path, and means mounted in said path for receiving 'saidcontact .pins, said last-named means includinga :die,saiddie havingopenings constructed with mouths substantially larger die "toipermittilting or said die while restrain- .ing. axial rotation thereof, and aneccentric power shaft connected to the opposite end of 'said' die, andmeansfforrotating said power shaft on an axis parallel to and displacedfrom its longitudinal axis, whereby said die is tilted to providerestricted paths in said openings for straightening said leads.

3. A machine for straightening external leads of electrical devicescomprising an elongated die having openings at one end face thereofcommunicating with passageways for receiving said leads, said openingsbeing substantially larger than the cross-sections of said leads andsaid passageways having inwardly inclined walls leading from said'openings, a resilient diaphragm supporting said die adjacent'said facethereof for tilting movement and against rotation, means engaging theother end of said die for imparting eccentric motion to said last-namedend, and means adjacent said die for guiding said device to cause saidleads thereof to enter said passageways in said die to a predetermineddepth, whereby said leads are deflected by the walls of said passagewaysto a straightened condition. 7

4. A machin for straightening wire pins extending from a device,comprising means for receiving and guiding said device to apredetermined location, said means including a stop for limiting themovement of said body in one direction, and means having one faceprovided with openings adjacent said first-named means for receivingsaid wire pins when said body abuts against said stop, said openingsbeing constructed with mouths substantially larger than thecross-sections of said pins and with inwardly inclined walls leadingfrom said mouths, resilient means for supporting said second-named meansadjacent said face thereof against rotation and for tilting movement,and means connected to said second-named means at a part thereof spacedfrom said face for imparting eccentric motion thereto, whereby said pinswhen received in said openings are deflected from a bent condition to astraightened position.

5. A machine for straightening a wire extending from on end of anarticle, comprising means for supporting said article and providingrestraints to motions thereof laterally and downwardly, said meansguiding longitudinal movement of said article and permitting rotationalmovement thereof, a die adjacent said means and having an opening in oneface thereof, said opening being constructed with outwardly flared wallsto provide a mouth substantially larger than the cross-section of saidwire, for receiving said wire, guided thereto by said means, resilientmeans engaging said die adjacent said face for preventing rotary motionof said die while permitting tilting thereof, and means engaging anotherportion of said die for imparting rotary motion to said another portioneccentric with respect to said die whereby said face and said opening ofsaid die are angularly deflected for straightening said wire.

6. A'machine for straightening leads extending from one end of a device,comprising a guide member for receiving said device and restraining thesame against lateral motion and permitting port engaging the outer edgeportions of said diaphragm, and means at the other end of said di fordeflecting said end laterally, said means including a power shaft, anadditional shaft mounted eccentrically at one end of said power shaft,said additional shaft being connected axially in a universal powertransfer relation to said other end of said die whereby said die istilted while restrained against axial rotation to dispose said walls indifferent successive angular positions for straightening said leads whenextended into said openings.

'7. An apparatus for positioning a conductor extending from an objectparallel to a predetermined axis of said object including a support forsupporting and guiding said object in'a predetermined path, movablemeans adjacent said support and having an opening disposed in said pathand communicating with a passageway therein having a tapered wall forreceiving said conductor, said opening being substantially larger thansaid conductor, a resilient support for said movable means, and meansfor actuating said movable means to move said conductor transversely ofsaid wall to a position'parallel to said axis.

8. An apparatus for positioning a conductor extending from an objectparallel to a predetermined axis of said object including tiltable meanshaving openings therein for receiving said conductor, said openingsbeing constructed with a mouth substantially larger than said conductorand with inwardly inclined walls leading from said mouth, a resilientsupport for said movable means, means for actuating said movable meansto cause an angular movement of said walls for defining a path parallelto said axis, and a guide for supporting and permitting relativemovement of said article towards and away from said tiltable .means,said tiltable means being mounted for receiving said conductor in saidopening thereof when said article is moved tomeans for causing anangular movement of said 7 opening, said movable means being mounted .toreceive said conductor in said opening thereof when said object is movedin said'path, whereby contact between the taper and said conductor willposition the conductor parallel to said'axis.

l0. An'apparatus for straightening a bent conductor extending from anobject including, a member havinga relatively wide openingcommunicatingwith a relatively narrow passages way, said opening being substantiallylarger than said conductor, for receiving said conductor, means forfixing said member against rotation, means for actuating said memberwhile so fixed to cause said relatively wider opening therein to revolvein a predeterminedcircular path to thereby effectively widen saidopening, and to cause said relatively narrow passageway to revolve in ashortercircular path than said first mentioned path, a support forsupporting and guiding said object towards and away from said member,said member being mounted to receive said conductor when said object ismoved toward said member, whereby said bent conductor is initiallyeasily received in said opening and extension thereof into saidpassageway efiectively straightens said conductor in a predeterminedline.

11. An apparatus for straightening a wire extending from an article,comprising means for supporting said article in a predeterminedposition, said means being constructed in the form of a guide to permitmovement of said article in a predetermined path, a die adjacent saidmeans and having an opening disposed in said path for receiving saidwire during movement of said article in said path towards said die, saiddie being mounted to permit tilting thereof and to restrain axialrotation thereof, said opening being constructed with a mouthsubstantially larger than a cross-section of said wire and with inwardlyinclined walls leading from said mouth, and means for tilting said die,whereby said wire when moved into said mouth is successively deflectedby said walls to a straightened position.

12. Apparatus for straightening a wire extending from an article,comprising a die mounted for tilting movement while held against axialrotation, said die having an opening therein constructed with a mouthsubstantially larger than a cross-section of said wire and with inwardlyinclined walls leading from said mouth, supporting means for saidarticle constructed in the form of a guide to permit relative move mentof said article toward and away from said guide, said die being mountedto receive said wire extending from said article as said article ismoved towards said die in said guide, and means for tilting said die,whereby said wire is successively deflected by said walls to astraightened position.

7 said prongs and with inwardly inclined walls leading from said mouths,said die being mounted to receive said prongs in said openings thereofwhen the article is moved towards said die, said tilting means includinga diaphragm restraining axial rotation of said die and an eccentricdrive connected to said die.

14. An apparatus for positioning a conductor extending from an objectparallel to a predetermined axis of said object, comprising a die havingan opening constructed with a mouth substantially larger than saidconductor and with inwardly inclined walls leading from said mouth, asupport for supporting an object in predetermined aXial position and forguiding said object in axial movements toward and awayv from said die,said die being mounted to receive said conductor in said openingsthereof when said article is moved toward said die, and to permit atilting movement thereof while held against rotation, whereby saidconductor is straightened.

WILLIAM T. ENGEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 934,429 Davies Sept. 21, 19091,182,658 Dolles May 9, 1916 2,389,885 Anderson Nov. 27, 1945

